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Hope. That’s the word that first comes to mind in describing Maya Angelou’s autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Which is funny, actually, given that the first two decades of her life were very rarely hopeful. As a child, Angelou endured racism and terrible sexual abuse. She struggled with an epic inferiority complex. She lost her voice … and eventually won it back—but not without enduring the shame and isolation of silence. So, um, where’s the hope? Surprisingly, it infuses even the most difficult scenes in this book, because Angelou doesn’t pity herself. More than that, this book isn’t just about Angelou’s struggles; it’s about how she worked through her struggles—and triumphed. And her book is a message of hope for anyone looking to do the same.
Genre: Autobiography
Jenny’s rating (out of 5 stars): 5
You’ll like this book if: You like gritty but warm coming-of-age stories.
You won’t like this book if: The realities of the pre-Civil Rights South are too much to bear.
